Floating chemical treatment device

ABSTRACT

A disposable swimming pool chlorinator in the form of a onepiece, blow-molded plastic container having a relatively large upper end portion defining a flotation chamber, a conically tapered intermediate section, and a depending neck having two rows of vertically spaced, hollow protuberances on its opposite sides and a fill opening in its lower end, closed by a heatsealed and tearable plug. A charge of chlorine tablets is sealed in the container to fill the latter to above the top of the neck, so that a selected number of the protuberances can be sliced off to form ports for admitting water into and out of the neck while the chlorinator floats in a pool, the container being imperforate above the open ports to trap air therein for flotation purposes and to limit the water level.

[4 1 Feb. 19,1974

United States Patent [191 Clinton FLOATING CHEMICAL TREATMENT DEVICEPrimary Examiner-John Adee Harry M. Clinton Northridge, Calif. AssistantExammer-Robert H. Spitzer [73] Assignee: Swimrite, Inc., Van Nuys,Calif.

[75] Inventor:

[57] ABSTRACT A disposable swimming pool chlorinator in the form of [22]Filed: May 30, 1972 [21] Appl. No.: 257,635

a one-piece, blow-molded plastic container having a relatively largeupper end portion defining a flotation chamber, a conically taperedintermediate section, and a depending neck having two rows of verticallyspaced, hollow protuberances on its opposite sides and a fill opening inits lower end, closed by a heat-sealed and tearable plug. A charge ofchlorine tablets is sealed in the container to fill the latter to abovethe 50 's om3 8 U2W 1 3 2 7 1-03 021 40;5 QBE 90 7O 6 62 1 "2 n 0 4 1 U2 2 "7 a 9 6 A in 7 3 6 ZU m mm9, 2 m m 2 m 1& m M W L 2 C 10 S WM k UME .1 .l] 2 8 5 55 top of the neck, so that a selected number of theprotuberances can be sliced off to form ports for admitting water intoand out of the neck while the chlorinator floats in a pool, thecontainer being imperforate above the open ports to trap air therein forflotation purposes and to limit the water level.

FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS S. w m CTMT A a Thm SCK mi 77 W99 NHHU009 1 %m rl 33 612,268 1/1961 Canada........ 23/267 A 7 Cl 4 D 1,164141 9/1969 Great 206/.5 film rawmg igm-es PATENTED rm I 91914 f; i; I:

FLOATING CHEMICAL TREATMENT DEVICE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Thisinvention relates to the chemical treatment of 5 liquids, and moreparticularly to the treatment of water in swimming pools and the likewith a chemical such as chlorine, to maintain, as closely as practical,a selected concentration of chlorine that is effective to kill bacteriaand inhibit growth of organic matter, as well as being safe andcomfortable for swimming.

In the past, chlorinization of swimming pools has been accomplished inseveral ways, including strictly manual treatment performed periodicallyby the owner or a service man and varied in accordance with the needs ofa particular pool, as determined by testing the concentration in thepool. This method is timeconsuming, and relatively expensive if handledby a professional.

Efforts have been made to provide automatic devices and systems forintroducing chlorine either periodically or continuously at controlledrates, but have not produced a completely satisfactory solution to theproblem. One approach has been to incorporate a chlorinization apparatusin the circulation system of the pool, but such an apparatus isinherently relatively expensive, and can malfunction, particularly afterprolonged periods of use during which residues from the water and fromthe source of chlorine, usually tablets, can collect on and jam movingparts.

Another approach has been to place the chlorine tablets in a perforatedcontainer, such as a floating capsule or a submerged vessel, to dissolveinto the water in the container and be released into the pool throughthe perforations in the container. Access to submerged containers forservicing is difficult, and the floating containers have had severallimitations, including un sightliness, lack of stability, release ofchlorine too close to the surface so as to permit excessive escape toatmosphere, difficulties in servicing and handling with out leakage,lack of control of the release rate, and others.

lllustrative automatic systems are shown in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,356,460 and3,401,116, and illustrative inpool containers are shown in U.S. Pat.Nos. 2,826,484 and 3,390,695. The general objective of the presentinvention is to provide a chlorinator of the in-pool type which has manyimportant advantages as compared to prior chlorinators of this generaltype.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention resides in an improvedchemical treatment device that is particularly well-suited for use as achlorinator in residential swimming pools, and is significantly moreconvenient to use and effective in operation than prior chlorinators ofsimilar types. Moreover, the device may be mass-produced at relativelylow cost so as to be disposable after use, yet provides for continuouschlorinization at rate which are selected in accordance with thechlorine requirements of a particular pool.

More specifically, and as embodied in the preferred mode of theinvention shown herein for purposes of illustration, the device is ahollow container, preferably blow-molded of plastic, and has an enlargedimperforate upper end portion defining a sealed flotation chamber, acoaxial neck of reduced size depending from the underside of the upperend portion, at least one, and preferably two, series of verticallyspaced, normally closed and selectively openable ports on the neck,beginning near the lower end thereof, and a closed lower end on theneck.

A charge of solid soluble chemical material such as conventionalchlorine tablets is sealed in the container to fill the neck to a levelabove the uppermost of the ports, one or more of the ports are openedadjacent be lower end, according to the chlorine requirements of thepool to be serviced, and the container is placed in the pool to floattherein. The wider upper end portion and the weight of the chlorinetablets cooperate to hold the container in an upright position, with theneck extending downwardly into the water, the open ports well below thesurface, and a body of gas trapped in the container above the highestopen port. This trapped gas provides flotaton, and also limits the waterlevel in the neck to the level of the highest open port, therebydetermining the amount of chlorine that is exposed to the water.

To prevent any tablets from being trapped in the enlarged end above thewater level, the neck is joined to the enlarged end portion by adownwardly tapered section. This section cooperates with the normal waveaction in the pool to funnel fresh tablets downwardly into the neck asother tablets therein are dissolved.

In the preferred form of the container, the ports are defined by twoangularly spaced rows of outwardly projecting blisters integral with theneck, which can easily be cut off to open any selected number of ports.Such blisters are easily formed in a blow-molding operation with aselected interior cross-sectional shape and area, so that thecutting-off of a blister produces an open flow port of predictable size.

The initial filling of the container is accomplished through an openingin the lower end of the neck, while the container is in an invertedposition. After filling, this opening is closed with a plug, which issecurely sealed in the opening to prevent accidental loss of thechlorine tablets. The plug preferably is designed to discourage effortsto refill a container, in view of the possibility of a dangerouschemical reaction between chlo' rine tablets of different types andbrands. For this purpose, the plug is made of relatively light andeasily tearable material, such as thin polyethylene, and is in the formof an inverted cup which fits snugly in the opening and has an annularflange overlying, and heat-sealed to, the end of the neck.

Other aspects and advantages of the invention will become apparent fromthe following detailed description, taken in conjunction with theaccompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of aportion of a swimming pool, partly in cross-section, with a treatmentdevice embodying the novel features of the present invention floating inthe pool water in a normal condition of use, and a second such device,shown in broken lines, resting in an inverted position on the deck ofthe pool;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged side elevational view of the floating device ofFIG. 1, with the neck and part of the enlarged upper end portion shownin cross-section;

FIG. 3 is a further enlarged, fragmentary side elevational view of thelower end portion of the neck, partly in cross-section, with theposition of removed blisters shown in broken lines; and

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken substantially along line 4-4 ofFIG. 2.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION As shown in the drawings for purposes ofillustration, the invention is embodied in a floating chlorinator 10 forreleasing chlorine continuously and at a controlled rate into the water11 of a swimming pool 12 in which the chlorinator is disposed. Ingeneral, the chlorinator is in the form of a hollow container having animperforate upper end portion 13 in which a body of air is trapped, anda perforated lower end portion 14 in which a charge ofchlorine-producing material, such as conventional chlorine tablets 15,is held for dissolving contact with water passing into and out of thecontainer. The combined weight of the chlorinator and the charge thereinis less than the weight of the water it displaces, so that it is buoyantand will float in the water in the pool.

In accordance with a primary aspect of the present invention, the upperend portion 13 of the improved chlorinator 10 is an enlarged hollowhead, and the lower portion 14 is a neck of reduced size which extends asubstantial distance below the head and has at least one, and preferablytwo, series of vertically spaced, initially closed and selectivelyopenable ports 17 extending from near the lower end 18 of the neck tonear the upper end thereof. When a charge of chlorine tablets I is inthe container, and selected ports 17 are open, the chlorinator floats inthe upright attitude shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, and the neck is filled withwater to the level of the highest open port. Thus, the amount ofchlorine that is exposed to the dissolving action of the water, and theresulting rate of chlorine release, can be determined in advance to suitthe capacity of the pool, and the chlorinator floats unobtrusively inthe pool in a relatively stable condition while continuously releasingthe chlorine well below the surface 19 of the water.

More specifically, the chlorinator preferably is formed as a one-pieceplastic, bottle-like container that may be produced inexpensively ofrelatively heavywalled linear polyethylene with conventional blowmoldingtechniques. The container is generally cylindrical adjacent a flat upperend 20, conically tapered at 21 below the cylindrical portion, from thediameter of the cylindrical portion to a substantially reduced diameter,and generally cylindrical from the lower end of the taper 21 to thelower end 18. The upper cylindrical portion and the taper form thehollow head of the container, and the lower cylindrical portion formsthe neck 14.

A circular opening is formed in the lower end 18 for use in introducingchlorine tablets into the container, and a plug 22 in the form of aninverted cup is fitted snugly in this opening. The plug has an outwardlyturned annular flange 23 (see FIG. 3) around its lower end, overhangingthe end 18 of the neck around the fill opening and this flangepreferably is permanently sealed to the neck after the container hasbeen filled.

For this purpose, the plug 22 may be made of relatively thinpolyethylene and secured to the container by a continuous heat seal 24between the flange and the lower end. In this manner, removal of theplug and refilling of the container can be discouraged to avoid thedanger of a chemical reaction between the initial chlorine tablets used,and tablets of a different type that might be used in refilling thecontainer after most of the initial charge has been dissolved.

Another feature of the invention is the special configuration of theports 17, for facilitating opening of any selected number in a rapid andsimple manner, and also insuring that each such port, when opened, willprovide a reasonably predictable flow area for liquid entering andexiting through the ports. To these ends, each of the ports is definedas an internal passage in an outwardly deformed, initially imperforateprotuberance or blister 25, which is generally circular in verticalcrosssection and has a circular end wall closing the outer end of theinternal passage.

The blisters 25 are formed integrally with the remainder of theblow-molded container as an incident to the blow-molding process, and,being deformed out of the sidewall of the neck 14, have walls that aresomewhat thinner than the relatively heavy wall of the neck. Thus, anyport can be opened by slicing off its outer end with a knife, generallyas shown by the three lower blisters on each side in the drawings.

Although a single row of ports 17 on one side of the neck 14 would admitwater into the neck, much more effective circulation of water throughthe chlorine tablets 15 is obtained with more than one row, preferablytwo, on diametrically opposed sides as shown in FIGS. 2 and 4. Theblisters 25 are equally spaced in each row, the lowermost being at alevel near the top of the plug 22 and the uppermost near the lower endof the taper 21. Herein, ten are included in each row, and the blistersof the two rows are vertically aligned in pairs and should be openedtogether.

Indicia may be applied to the neck adjacent each blister, typically inthousands of gallons, to indicate generally the capacity of a pool thatshould be served if all of the ports from that level down are opened.For example, the second level from the lower end might be marked 10,000gallons and each successively higher level marked with a capacity 5,000gallons larger. Representative dimensions of the container for thesecapacities would be as follows:

Neck Diameter About 3 /2 inches Neck Length About 6 inches Port DiameterAbout A inch Head Diameter About 8 inches Head Length (Height) About 5inches With such a chlorinator, a charge of about 5 pounds of suitablechlorine tablets can be placed in a container, and will fill thecontainer to about the upper end of the taper Zl, as shown in FIG. 2.Although the release rate varies with the number of ports that areopened in use, such a chlorinator can be expected to remain effective,in general, for as long as one month or more.

The manufacture of the improved chlorinator 10 is relatively simple andinexpensive. Containers are massproduced by conventional blow-moldingtechniques and the plugs 22 are fabricated from sheet plastic material.Before the plugs are inserted and sealed, a charge of chlorine tablets15 is introduced through the fill opening while the container isinverted. Then the plug is inserted in the opening, and the flange 23 isheat sealed to the end 18 of the neck 14. It should be noted that thecontainer then is completely sealed to confine the contents therein.

A suitable label (not shown) can be applied, conveniently in the form ofa printed paper strip wrapped around the upper cylindrical portion anddetachably secured thereto so as to be removable prior to insertion ofthe chlorinator in a pool. A permanent cautionary notice (not shown),warning against refilling, can be embossed in the upper end 20 of thecontainer. If desired, a tab, ring or the like can be formed on theupper end portion for use in tying the chlorinator in a selected area ofthe pool.

To prepare the chlorinator for use, a purchaser simply removes thelabel, and slices off an appropriate number of blisters 25 to open theproper number of ports 17 for the capacity of his particular pool, inaccordance with instructions on the label. Three pairs of ports 17 areopened in the illustrative chlorinator shown in the drawings, this beingillustrative of a chlorinator appropriate for a 15,000 gallon pool.

Then the chlorinator 10 is placed in the pool with the neck 14 down, asshown in FIGS. 1 and 2, and with the tablets 15 filling the neck and thetaper 21, as shown in FIG. 2. This will cause the chlorinator to'sink toabout the level shown, leaving a relatively narrow portion of thecylindrical portion 13 exposed above the water.

As the chlorinator is inserted in the pool, water enters the neck 14through the open ports 17 and fills the space around the chlorinetablets in the lower end portion of the neck, up to the level of theuppermost open port. Air is trapped in the container above this level,and thus prevents water from rising above the desired level.

Upon contact with the water, the chlorine tablets 15 begin to dissolve,and chlorine is releasedinto the pool with the water that circulatesinto and out of the neck. It will be seen that chlorine enters the poolwell below the surface, which reduces the immediate loss of chlorine tothe atmosphere. It also will be seen that natural wave action in thepool will cause the neck to swing back and forth, pendulum fashion, toenhance the circulationof water through the chlorinator.

As chlorine tablets 15 are dissolved, settling of the tablets willoccur, assisted by the wave action to maintain the lower end portion ofthe neck substantially filled. The taper 21 serves to funnel the tabletsfrom above into the neck, and prevents any tablets from being trappedabove the water level.

As the weight of the charge of chlorine tablets 15 is progressivelyreduced, the chlorinator will rise progressively higher in the water.Thus, the distance it projects out of the water is an indication of theamount of chlorine that has been consumed, and of the useful liferemaining. When substantially all of the chlorine has been consumed, thechlorinator will lie over on its side, indicating the need for a freshunit. Thus, the used unit simply is discarded, and a new unit isprepared for use and placed in the pool.

If an occasion ever arises in which the chlorinator 10 is to be removedtemporarily from the pool, it may be raised out of the water, held overthe pool while water drains out of the neck 14 through the open ports17, and then inverted and placed on the deck 27 beside the pool in theposition shown in broken lines in FIG. 1. The broad upper end of thecontainer holds the chlorine tablets 15 and any remaining water, andalso provides a stable base of support. Since the enlarged upper endportion is imperforate, there is no danger of leakage that could stainthe deck.

The generally recommended concentration of chlorine for swimming poolsis within the range of 0.6 to 1.0 parts per million, and the foregoingindicia are intended as a general, rather than specific, guide for usein providing the proper concentration. A number of variables affectchlorine comsumption in a swimming pool, including surface area,temperature, agitation and the amount of organic matter present, andtesting is advisable at least initially, to determine the actualconcentration that is obtained and maintained with a given number ofopen ports.

From the foregoing, it should be apparent that the present inventionprovides an improved chlorinator 10 with which chlorine may beintroduced into a pool on a continuous basis and at a rate that issuited to the needs of the pool. At the same time, the chlorinator maybe sufficiently inexpensive to be disposable, floats in a relativelystable upright position avoiding any likelihood of tipping over,releases chlorine well below the surface 19 of the water, and utilizesthe wave action of the pool to enhance the flow of water through thechlorine. The blister-type of port makes the container very simple toprepare for use, and also provides a relatively uniform and predictableflow area when the port is opened. in short, the improved chlorinator issimple, relatively inexpensive, reliable, and convenient to use.

lt also will be apparent that, while a particular form has beenillustrated and described, various changes and modifications may be madewithout departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

1 claim:

1. A floating chemical treatment device for use in the continuouschlorinization of a swimming pool, comprising:

a one-piece plastic container having a relatively broad andsubstantially flat and circular upper end, a cylindrical cpper endportion extending downwardly from said upper end, a downwardly taperedintermediate section below said cylindrical portion, and an elongated,generally cylindrical neck depending from the lower end of said taperedsection and substantially coaxial with said cylindrical portion, saidneck being longer than said upper end portion and having a fill openingin its lower end.

2. A floating chemical treatment device as defined in claim 1 in whichsaid blisters are circular in vertical cross-section and define ports ofpredetermined crosssectional areas when severed.

3. A floating chemical treatment device as defined in claim 1 in whichsaid rows are arranged on diametrically opposed sides of said neck toprovide throughflow of water.

4. A floating chemical treatment device as defined in claim 1 in whichsaid cylindrical portion has a diameter at least twice the diameter ofsaid neck.

5. A floating chemical treatment device as defined in claim 1 in whichsaid charge fills said neck and said ta per, and extends approximatelyto the lower end of said cylindrical portion.

6. A floating chemical treatment device as defined in claim 11 in whichsaid plug has an annular flange over- 3,792,979 7 8 hanging said lowerend of said neck and permanently atively thin-walled, tearable plastic,and is heat-sealed sealed thereto. to said lower end sufiicientlytightly to cause tearing of 7. A floating chemical treatment device asdefined in said plug during attempted removal thereof. claim 6 in whichat least said flange is composed of reld February 19, 197A Patent No.5,792, Date Inventor(s) Harry M. Clinton It is certified that errorappears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters. Patent arehereby corrected as shown below:

Col. 6, line 49, please change the period to a semicolon.

Col.. 6, afte r'line-49, please insert the following elements:

a plug fitted in said fill opening and sealed to said container; r I

a charge chlorineprod1icingtablets sealed in said container and said ande tendingnpwardly into said tapered section;

and two rows of Vertically, spaced, outwardly projecting hollow blisterson the outer side of said neck and formed integrally therewith, saidblisters being arranged in angularly spaced longitudinally aligned pairsof preselected cross-sectional area and composed of material that iseasily severed to open selected ports for flows of,water into and out ofsaid neck, and said container being :imperforate to trap airabovesaidjports' for flotation purposes and to limit ,thelevel of waterin the floating container to the level of the selected open ports.-

Signed and sealed this 5rd day of December 197 (SEAL) vAttest: v

MCCOY M. GIBSON JR. C. MARSHALL DANN Attesting Officer Commissioner ofPatents FORM PC40 0 (1 I I uscoMwDC 60376-P69 I GOVERNMENT PRINTINGOFFICE: 93o

2. A floating chemical treatment device as defined in claim 1 in whichsaid blisters are circular in vertical cross-section and define ports ofpredetermined cross-sectional areas when severed.
 3. A floating chemicaltreatment device as defined in claim 1 in which said rows are arrangedon diametrically opposed sides of said neck to provide through-flow ofwater.
 4. A floating chemical treatment device as defined in claim 1 inwhich said cylindrical portion has a diameter at least twice thediameter of said neck.
 5. A floating chemical treatment device asdefined in claim 1 in which said charge fills said neck and said taper,and extends approximately to the lower end of said cylindrical portion.6. A floating chemical treatment device as defined in claim 1 in whichsaid plug has an annular flange overhanging said lower end of said neckand permanently sealed thereto.
 7. A floating chemical treatment deviceas defined in claim 6 in which at least said flange is composed ofrelatively thin-walled, tearable plastic, and is heat-sealed to saidlower end sufficiently tightly to cause tearing of said plug duringattempted removal thereof.